Harambee Starlets Look to Bounce Back Against Ivory Coast After Benin Friendly Loss: 'We Have Seen Our Mistakes'

Harambee Starlets forward Mwanalima "Dogo" Adam has stressed the importance of learning from their mistakes after Kenya fell 2-0 to Benin in an international friendly on Monday.

The match, played at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium, was a crucial part of the team's preparations for the upcoming 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). For coach Beldine Odemba's squad, the result served as a timely wake-up call.

Despite fielding a strong team, Harambee Starlets were caught off guard early on, with Nailatou Sadikou opening the scoring for Benin in the 10th minute. Yolande Gnammi later doubled the lead in the second half, sealing the victory for the West Africans.

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Adam, however, views the loss not as a failure but as a vital learning experience. She explained that these preparatory matches are intended to highlight areas for improvement before the tournament begins in Morocco on March 17.

"It’s our first build-up match as we prepare to go to WAFCON," Adam stated. "So we have seen our mistakes, and in the next game with the Ivory Coast, we will rectify them and have better results."

The Starlets are currently working to integrate seasoned players with promising young talent from the youth system. The defeat underscored the need for better defensive cohesion and more clinical finishing, but Adam remains confident in the team's progress.

"The benefits of those friendlies are to be prepared and ready, so we see what needs to be done before the WAFCON," she added. "Benin was not an easy team, but we shift focus to the next game, and after that, we will be able to gauge ourselves."

Kenya will remain in Abidjan for their next friendly, a challenging fixture against the hosts, the Ivory Coast, on Wednesday, March 4, at the same venue.

Following their West African tour, the squad is scheduled to travel to Miramas, France, for a 10-day intensive training camp.

This final preparation phase will allow the team to fine-tune tactics before they depart for Rabat to face hosts Morocco in their WAFCON opening match.